Computers have tremendous potential for helping people change behaviors that put their health at
risk. This potential has led to the development of a variety of health behavior intervention technologies (BITs) in
recent years. While many of these BITs have been informed by scientific theories on behavior change, poor
design can fail to engage intended users. User-centered, interaction design (IxD) research can help BIT developers create tools that are intuitive and enjoyable and that align with intended users’ goals. In this manuscript, we describe an IxD research process we used to inform the development of a tablet-optimized web application designed to help heavy drinking gay and bisexual men reduce their risk for HIV when they seek HIV testing.
We conducted focus groups with subject matter experts (SMEs, N = 10) and intended users (N = 25).
In the SME group, HIV test counselors were recruited to provide an understanding of the priorities and challenges of post-test counseling. In focus groups with intended users, participants created detailed, personalized models of two “typical” users of the proposed app (“personas”) that could be used to guide design decisions.